Lobelia plant named ‘KLELE10724’

ABSTRACT

A new  Lobelia  plant named ‘KLELE10724’ particularly distinguished by its very round mounding, to half-hanging plants and its dark blue flowers, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Lobelia erinus.

Variety denomination: ‘KLELE10724’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of lobelia, botanically known as Lobelia erinus, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLELE10724’. The new variety resulted from an open-pollination in June 2007 in Stuttgart, Germany, between the proprietary female parent, Lobelia plant ‘KLELE08623’, (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,129) and an unknown male. A single plant selection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation and asexual propagation.

The new variety was first propagated via vegetative cuttings and in vitro propagation in May 2008 in Stuttgart, Germany, and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings for more than six generations. ‘KLELE10724’ has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations via vegetative cuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety were applied for in Canada on Mar. 19, 2010. ‘KLELE10724’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in a glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Very round mounding to half-hanging; and     -   2. Dark blue flowers.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

This new lobelia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant in full color. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph was taken in the Spring of 2010 of a 3-month-old Lobelia plant grown in a 10 centimeter pot in a glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany under normal horticultural practices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLELE10724’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken in the Spring of 2010 of 3-month-old plants grown in 10 centimeter pots in a glass greenhouse with a minimum pinch date of eight weeks. Color readings were taken under natural light. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), Fifth Edition (2007).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Lobelia erinus.         -   Common name.—Lobelia. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary Lobelia plant ‘KLELE08623’             (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,129).         -   Male parent.—Unknown. -   Growth:     -   -   Growth and branching habit.—Semi-trailing.         -   Form.—Rounded.         -   Height (measured from the top of the soil, including any             flowers).—12.0 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter, including any             flowers).—25.0 cm.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—10 weeks.         -   Outdoor plant performance.—Quite good.         -   Time to initiate roots.—3 weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine, white roots, freely branching and             dense. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Color.—Immature Leaf: Upper surface: RHS 143B. Lower             surface: RHS 143C. Mature Leaf: Upper surface: RHS 137B.             Lower surface: RHS 137D.         -   Length.—3.0 cm to 4.0 cm.         -   Width.—1.0 cm to 1.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Basal leaves: Elliptical. Upper leaves: Lanceolate.         -   Margin.—Basal leaves: Serrate. Upper leaves: Entire.         -   Apex.—Basal leaves: Obtuse. Upper leaves: Acuminate.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Venation.—Pinnate. -   Stems:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 18.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.15 cm.         -   Internode length.—2.0 cm to 4.0 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Stem anthocyanin.—Absent.         -   Peduncle.—Length: 2.0 cm to 3.0 cm. Diameter: 0.03 cm to             0.04 cm. Texture: Smooth. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Shape.—Inverse drop.         -   Diameter.—0.4 cm to 0.6 cm.         -   Length.—1.0 cm to 1.3 cm. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on plant.—Approximately 1             week.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Inflorescence type.—Raceme.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per flowering branch.—12 to 18. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower diameter (horizontal).—Approximately 1.9 cm.         -   Flower height (vertical).—Approximately 1.6 cm.         -   Mature flower.—Upper lobe: Color: Upper surface: Between RHS             95B and RHS 93A. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width:             Approximately 0.7 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin:             Entire. Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Smooth.             Lower lobes: Color: Upper surface: Between RHS 95B and RHS             93A. Length: Approximately 0.7 cm. Width: Approximately             0.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Smooth.         -   Corolla.—Color inside: White. Color outside: RHS 95B to RHS             93A. Tube length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm.         -   Calyx.—Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately             1.5 cm. Shape: Funnel, star-shaped with fused sepals in             lower half. Apex: Acute. Texture: Smooth. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Number of anthers: 5. Pollen amount: Moderate.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil length: Approximately 0.5 cm.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘KLELE10724’ differs from the female parent, ‘KLELE08623’, (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,129) in that ‘KLELE10724’ has medium dark blue flowers, whereas ‘KLELE08623’ has darker blue flowers.

‘KLELE10724’ differs from the commercial variety ‘KLELE06114’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,680) in that ‘KLELE10724’ has lower vigor, whereas ‘KLELE06114’ has higher vigor. ‘KLELE10724’ has a semi-trailing growth habit, whereas ‘KLELE06114’ has a trailing growth habit. Additionally, ‘KLELE10724’ has a medium early flowering date, whereas ‘KLELE06114’ has a later flowering date. 

1. A new and distinct Lobelia plant named ‘KLELE10724’ as shown and described herein. 